To puncture my ear drum?

[LilQuim]

I realise anyone remotely medical / sensible will say "ffs woman, STOP!"

I get recurrent sinusitis, got eustachean tube dysfunction & have constantly blocked feeling (plus reduced hearing) in ear. Most of the time ear drum is retracted.

Today ear is so painful. Equalising pressure doesn't work. Sinus spray etc no help.

I am fantasising about puncturing the drum with a needle to relieve pressure. I mean, how can it be worse than if it perforated? Had that happen few times before.

Only time ear has felt ok is when I had grommet in or when on long term antibiotics.

Let. Me. Jab. My. Eardrum!

Seriously, this is a bad idea, you are likely to introduce an infection to the area, or possibly cause permanent damage. I have similar problems with my ear & am familiar with the pain. I think in your situation I'd be more inclined to ring 111 or go to a walk in centre, if you have one locally, & ask for advice/help. Tell them you are actually contemplating puncturing it due to the pain.

@SandunesAndRainclouds yeah. Tbh I've tried everything. Had grommets as a kid, had problems whole life. Had grommets again a few years ago. I'm just either in constant pain and/or can't bloody hear. Plus get vile sinus gunk as post-nasal drip. So I do that lovely snorting thing!!

Guys, I'm single 😉

@LilQuim I laughed so hard at 'stab myself in the brain' (please film it)

@CottonSock I'd never do it for a child, but knowing that relief, every time it gets this bad I desperately want to.

@RabbityMcRabbit it's so weird, isn't it - you know it'll relieve the pain & pressure. I've been trying to equalise pressure by blowing so hard I hope that bursts it for me!

You actually can have that done as a surgical procedure to relieve pressure and let out the gunk. Please don't actually do it yourself.

On another note, today I found by accident some research about Xylitol nose spray as a preventative for sinus infections and ear infections. Might be worth a go in your case?

@BrexitIsComing I've told a few doctors that I want to do it. I honestly don't think they realise how horrible the pain is to want to do that. I've taken painkillers now, so hoping I sleep & see how it is tomorrow.

Please don’t do it. Coming from a specialist in this area.
Have you tried otovent?

Not that I recommend doing it, but there was a thread on here a while back where op was in agony with ear pain and a poster gave instructions on how to burst the ear drum to relieve the pain. No stabbing was required. You might be able to do an advanced search?

@MotherOfTheNoise hahaha! Imagine if bits of brain start squishing out too!! I just want to make a wee hole, then blow to equalise pressure & all the shit come bubbling out!! rubs thighs

@tinysnickersaremyfavourite I have asked & nobody will agree that this can be done! I might need a grommet put in again.

@tinysnickersaremyfavourite ooooooh not heard about the Xylitol spray. I'll look that up. Thank you.

@SweetPeaPods I've tried Otovent. On Avamys daily. Tried steroid drops. Neilmed nasal irrigation.

It's just unbearable right now!

@Kitsandkids oooooooooooh I need to find this!!! I'm off to try searching. Thank you.

FFS NO! you could leave your ear permanently damaged. If you have ear ache, get a hot water bottle to hold against it. I know how painful it is, but the relief is not worth the risk!

How do you even puncture your ear drum?

How do you know it needs puncturing?

@Sirrah I understand what you're saying.... but.... bear with me.... how can it be worse than if it spontaneously bursts??? That's happened a few times.

@itsbritneybiatches I'm fantasising about sticking a needle down my ear canal til it touches it, and push. There have been suggestions of knitting needles.

I've had middle ear infections loads over the years, and the pain is relieved if it bursts.

If it bursts, it will be a tiny, pinprick hole, and bugs won't be introduced by a foreign body. I have had so many ear infections, and perforated eardrums, and I would never have thought to intentionally puncture it myself.

Just imagine if you pushed a little too hard, and damaged the delicate structures inside your ear?

Fuck It, I'd do it. Good luck!

You know heat draws poison/pus out? Hot water bottle might do the job safely.

Is it like the pain from a really bad ingrown hair? Ie when it bursts you just feel relief but in a larger scale?

I've never suffered with it (thank god going by your post)

have you tried Otrivine
I read that as Ovaltine & thought WTF?
Sorry you are suffering op. No advice, except please don’t poke anything in there

The thing is most perforated eardrums heal quicklybut some don’t. I’ve had them in the past and have been fine. But this time I may end up having to have an operation.

Op, I’ve had the same as you on numerous occasions and my eardrum bursts on its own after about 5 hours. I would advise the strongest pain killers you can get over the counter like paracetamol and codeine and a hot water bottle and wait it out. Horrible but it’s better for it to tear naturally